2 Gigantic French Solar Farms Part of 100MW Super Array

They might not quite match the Google-supported 392MW solar thermal project in Nevada, but 2 projects launched in France look set to eclipse many other European utility-scale solar projects, like this 1MW solar farm in England. Spanning a joint surface area of 89 acres, and generating up to 18.2MW combined, two solar farms in Les Mées, France, are part of a broader push in the region that will see panels covering 200 hectares and producing around 100MW by the end of 2011.

The projects' creators claim that the location is also a huge advantage in terms of energy output:

The solar power stations were installed on the Puimichel plateau (municipality of Les Mées) - one of the most favourable areas of France for solar exposure, yielding up to 1,556 kWh/m² annually. In addition the sites' altitude of 800 metres ensures ideal ventilation, which in turn guarantees an optimal output of 10 to 15% above average.